work 1 of 2

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as in to serve
to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to perform
to produce a desired effect this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to operate
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

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work

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noun

1
as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production unfortunately, many of her works are now out of print

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in factory
works plural a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods a glass works where high quality glassware is made

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun work contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of work are drudgery, grind, labor, toil, and travail. While all these words mean "activity involving effort or exertion," work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

In what contexts can drudgery take the place of work?

The meanings of drudgery and work largely overlap; however, drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When might grind be a better fit than work?

The synonyms grind and work are sometimes interchangeable, but grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

When could labor be used to replace work?

The words labor and work are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

When is toil a more appropriate choice than work?

The words toil and work can be used in similar contexts, but toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

When is it sensible to use travail instead of work?

Although the words travail and work have much in common, travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of work
Verb
Female athletes are working the deals, too, with tennis star Coco Gauff as the face of New Balance x Miu Miu shoes and tennis apparel. Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Aug. 2025 Davis Lu, 55, had worked as a senior software developer at Eaton Corp. in Beachwood, Ohio, since 2007 according to Cleveland.com. PC Magazine, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
There is no zone of privilege in her work—absolutely anything can happen at any time. Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2025 All leaders—from new managers to seasoned executives—must delegate tasks to free up time and attention for the big-picture work their more-senior roles demand. Harvard Business Review, 24 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • But the move has caused Niger, the country in West Africa where the space rock was initially found, to question the legality of its export.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Severe storms and flooding in Muskego, Wisconsin, caused road closures, sewage issues, and damage to homes and businesses.
    Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • But Trotter said the mystery of where the Carruthers ended up has been solved.
    Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 25 Aug. 2025
  • An issue that Slot solved last season has been a theme during pre-season and into competitive action, with all four goals against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield and Bournemouth coming from Liverpool losing the ball and then being cut open.
    Chris Waugh, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Bolton, who served in President Donald Trump’s first term, has become a vocal critic of the administration’s foreign policy and called the president unfit to serve.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
  • In June, the organization estimated to have already served more than 1.5 million meals this year alone.
    Ryan Bergeron, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • When culture starts performing alignment instead of living it, most companies reach for fixes: tighter messaging, new values, more playbooks.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The top 10 will then perform on the main 816 Day stage.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • CTOs now sit at the strategic heart of organizations, driving revenue growth, operational efficiency and competitive advantage.
    Mary Elizabeth Bradford, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
  • The storm, still driving dangerous, 125 mph winds, was centered about 170 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 8 a.m. ET, the NHC said.
    John Bacon, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • As of May 2025, Ulta Beauty operates 1,451 stores across all 50 states.
    Sara Chernikoff, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Lawyers for Florida and the Trump administration told the court that federal law doesn't apply because the facility was built and is operated by the state.
    Greg Allen, NPR, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Most entrepreneurs struggle to differentiate themselves and attract their target audience.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Organizers also went door-to-door canvassing to households and people who were struggling to navigate an eviction process.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The fire department’s water rescue team immediately started rescue efforts and police used a drone to help with the search, officials said.
    Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.

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